Effect of mutations in lawc/Trf2 gene on chromocenter formation and chromosome segregation in Drosophila melanogaster

In Drosophila, one of the genes of the lawc/Trf2 (leg-arista-wing complex/TBP-related factor 2) complex encodes an alternative basic transcription factor homologous to the TRF2 protein in vertebrates and human and belongs to a conservative Tbp (TATA box-binding protein) gene family. In the present study, reasons for the high frequency of chromosome nondisjunction were studied among descendants of mutants from 18 lines with a decreased expression of the TRF2 protein. It was determined that the suppression of the TRF2 expression violates the development of a compact chromocenter and the correct approach of homologous chromosomes (in germinative and somatic cells). The possibility of the participation of TRF2 in the evolutionary genetically programmed process of sex-ratio meiotic drive, which is typical of a number of animal species, is discussed.